New skins last week

[JLEONARD]

Ok, I put on 4 new tires last week. After much research, mostly on the Tire Rack's web site and here, I decided to go with what my son had suggested a couple of months ago.

Yokohama Geolander 265/75 -16 H/T-S. They are a 'highway all season' style , (I hate tire noise) , and carry a D rating of 3000 per tire. They rated much higher than the Michelin, Goodyear, BFG, etc in the truck all season group. And at $95 they are a good deal. 60 K warantee which ranks with the best for what that's worth.

I went with a 265 to keep the same tire diameter as I had with the 235/85s that were on the truck. Also, 265 is the largest that will fit on the stock rims.

I was a little hesitant because some folks on this site and DTR rated them as poor on wet roads. But today I got to try them out in some light rain and I think they are great.

Truck handles fantastic... guess the old tires (ones that were free with the truck) were worse than I thought.

When I get to try them out in slush and snow I'll let you guys know how they perform... . They got rated fairly well on snow for a highway all season. Of course I'm 2wd with an "open" differential.



I did keep 2 Pep Boys Futura 235/85-16 E rated "orphans" that someone is welcome to... . they have decent tread left. I don't care to ship them however... I'm not sure they are worth the hassle, so someone needs to drive to CT to get them if interested. PM me.

Jay

 

[RGT]

I need to do something before the snow flies too, my Uniroyals are pretty well spent, I would like to get some other rims so I could keep them mounted to wear them smooth next summer, I would'nt buy them again as they have the worst wet traction I have ever driven with, I saw good things about the geolanders as well, the only complaint I see on the web is wear..... but if they offer a 60k warranty that should cover it, I think I'll stick with 235/85r-16's E, though, the tire guy down the street is pushing the uniroyal at's goes on about how jd power rates them as the best all round... ... they don't get much good press on the web, and he wants 134. 00 per plus mounting, he has some generics in the 95-110 range guess I'll have to go farther from home and find some yokohamas(?) thanks for giving us the input on your tire choice, it is timely for me.

 

[banzaitoyota]

I wrapped mine in no-name WINSTON LT Load range E, 100 apiece. Until I can afford to do the Rickson 19. 5" ttire conversion.

 

[Greenleaf]

This is a subject of great debate. One which I have learned a great deal from. I'm still in the dark as to which brand/size would be best for my application.



If memory serves (hope I'm not experiencing troubles yet) my tires are 245/75 These are wider than the factory but a bit shorter. Tire dealer said to keep this size. He also recommended the Yoko tire. They sell others but, he felt these are the best for the money. I still think Michelin is the best. The last trucking co. I worked for as well as the school(s) use the Michelin brand exclusively. But these are 11R 225.



When you say the 265 tire is the largest to fit the rim, do you mean in terms of width? Or is this the largest to fit on the truck with stock rim to prevent interference?



IMO, in order to stay with the same diameter as the former size, you would have needed to use the 75 not the 85 but I'm no tire expert.



I have some time yet, but will need to acquire new tires in the near future. I'm concerned with the gear ratio change/hp to the ground with change in size from factory.



Enough for now

Scott

 

[JLEONARD]

When you say the 265 tire is the largest to fit the rim, do you mean in terms of width

Yes I mean width... that's according to specs in Tire Rack's web site and measuring an empty rim I had in the garage.

The 265/75 is the same height as the 235/85 that was on the truck... . 31. 7 inches or something like that. I wanted to keep the 24/26 mpg I'm getting.

They look good on the truck... they fill up the tire well pretty good.

 

[GFrance]

new skins

I also bought some new skins yesterday. I poured over alot of threads on here and other sites along with checking out the tire rack. I ended up at les schwab's for several reasons. Guess I already had my mind made up just needed to cofirm it.

#1 350 stores in the west to fix flats,rotate tires, rebalance free

#2 have had good luck with tires in past

#3 I buy all my big rig tires there because of theyre road service

#4 Have had tire adjustments made in the past with no hassles

I ended up with some a/t sxt 265/75r/16 E

they are sipped so we will see if we will do good on mileage, should run cooler with better grip on ice/snow & shed the water.

I got $100. 00 for my michalins had 20,000 on paid $491. 32/4

 

[vssman]

Whoa!!!! Jay, I thought you were going to let me put them on the back of mine and we could wear them out in a couple of minutes? You know... Powerbrake until the TC locks up after OD? Makes for some really nice strips!!









"Hey, what did you do to that thing?"

 

[JLEONARD]

I thought you were going to let me put them on the back of mine and we could wear them out in a couple of minutes?

vssman,

No problem buddy... . want them mounted up on some old 1st gen rims?????

 

[Timebomb]

I thought id jump in i also just bought new tires last week. I got 285/75/16 Firestone Destinations. They are a really nice tire $712 mounted and Balanced. Ill let you know how they do in the snow in a couple weeks.

 

[dpuckett]

Greenleaf-

The only two sizes I'm aware of that were stock were the 235/85 16 for SRW, and 215/85 16 for DRW. I haev seen as small as 225/ 75 on 3/4T (put on by owner); not sure why, but the truck had them. I'd say to heck with the tire salesman- most of them nowadays are after one thing- money/ commission- and get some bigger diameter tires. I've noticed that Mom's truck eats tires faster than mine- she runs 215s' I run 235s. 265/75-16s are real close to the 235/85-16 in height, at least on paper (section width x aspect ratio). Plus, the larger tire looks better in the wheel well, and it should have NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on power, mpg, pulling, etc. That BS applies to gassers, I guess



Daniel

 

[MicroOutlawRacer]

I put on a set of 315 70/R17's BFGoodrich KO all terrains on my truck about 2 weeks ago and love them. They are on a set of 17/8" aluminum rims. They are well worth the extra money I spent on this set up for a couple of reasons. With the BFG's KO's and 17" rim u can get a good load range out to them (3195 pounds). 2. KO is the best all terrain that is out there in my own oppion (VERY little road noise Long life (know a guy that has 70,000 miles on a set and still using them)) and to top it off i got a smoking deal on the hole set up too ($1150). Have had them on now for about 3 weeks and really like them.

 

[banzaitoyota]

I'm saving pennies and dimes for the Rickson 19. 5's

 

[dpuckett]

How much bigger than a 235/85-16 are the 19. 5s? I have plenty of room under my front end; almost looks like a 4x4 at first glance, esp sitting next to Mom's with its squatting front end. I'd say I have about 3" on each side of the tire right now. Could trim the fenders if needed.



Daniel

 

[RGT]

finally got new tires and rims, before too much snow had flown... I ended up with Peerless Fore 4's in a 235/85R16 in a load range E, they are an AT. Price mounted and balanced on new(stock) rims was $596. 00. Interestingly the new rims are the same as originals 16 x 6. 5, and are used on 1994-1997 full size Dodge vans... . are there any center caps that will fit these rims and look better than the stock pie plates?, I like the black plastic ones on the newer superdutys... . with a gray rim... anyone know what might fit?

 

[MAX A/C]

I'm loving my Michelin LTX M/S in 285/75R16. Pricey, but worth it. I'll buy my tires like my life depends on it. I've had many separations with Pirelli and BFG's, and had a 60-mph blowout with an off-brand that came with the truck.



The Michelins have a 3305 lb. rating (at only 65 psi!!!) and fill up the wheel wells nicely at 33" tall. Very quiet and very smooth riding at 70mph. Have excellent wet traction-lots of siping. Highly recommended.



I saw 19. 5"s today that had only a 3600 lb load rating at 90 psi. My previous 235/85 16's had a 3400 rating at 80psi. So what's the big advantage of 19. 5's?



Scott

 

[914x4ctd]

I have been using BFG MT/KM 33x12. 5x16. 5" on aftermarket aluminum wheels. I stepped up to the larger tire because of the 4. 10 gears and the highway driving that I do. I went for the mud terrain tires because we have a lot more of that here then snow. This will be the 3rd set that I have owned. I have had nothing but good things to say about them. Quiet and smooth on the highway, which is not commonly associated with muds. I got over 50,000miles on my '75 ramcharger with them. I have about 10k on the tires on my diesel and look like new.